With an easing of lockdown from the Covid-19 pandemic, people in the UK have been encouraged to use the countryside more (access to green spaces has beneficial effects on both physical and mental well-being). As travel abroad is also problematic, many folk have been trying out staycations (holidaying at home). This (perhaps due to demand) has sometimes involving fly-camping (camping in locations where the activity is neither legal nor supported). This (and general visits to green places) seem to have resulted in an enormous increase in the amount of rubbish in the countryside. This is not only unsightly but it is expensive to clear and can be damaging to wildlife. The Countryside Code (https://www.countrysideonline.co.uk/care-for-the-countryside/countryside-code/) which encourages appropriate behaviours whilst in non-rural locations has long been in place. Many of the new visitors, however, either seem unaware of it or just ignore it. The former failure may be corrected, if the government spent more than the paltry £2000 every 18 months on publicity for it. The latter needs more active policing and fines (actually a much more expensive process). Trashing the countryside would be an extremely bad idea.
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